The B-side of the single in most territories was the album track "Here I Go Again", but in Germany the non-album track "A Ride in the Lizzy Mobile" was featured. This track later appeared on the 4CD box set Vagabonds, Kings, Warriors, Angels as "Cruising in the Lizzy Mobile".
The single failed to chart in the UK, but reached #11 in Ireland. However, it became a live favourite and was the final track on the band's 1978 live album Live and Dangerous.
Recently, the song was remixed for the PlayStation 3 video game Gran Turismo 5: Prologue.
The Rocker
Thin Lizzy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I take no lip no ones tougher than me
I'd kick your face you'd soon be seeing double
Hey little girl, keep your hands off me
I'm a rocker
I'm a rocker
I'm a roller too baby
Down at the juke joint me and the boys were stompin'
Bippin' an a boppin', telling a dirty joke or two
In walked this chick and I knew she was up to something
And I kissed her right there out of the blue
I said "hey baby, meet me I'm a tough guy"
Got my cycle outside, you want to try?
She just looked at me and rolled them big eyes
And said "ooh I'd do anything for you 'cause you're a rocker"
That's right I'm a rocker
I'm a roller too honey
I'm a rocker
I love to rock and roll
I get my records and I rock on stall
Rock and roll
Teddy boy, he's got them all
I love to rock and roll
I get my records and I rock on stall
Sweet rock and roll
Teddy boy, he's got them all
I'm a rocker!
The lyrics to Thin Lizzy's "The Rocker" are a straightforward declaration of the singer's rock-and-roll lifestyle. The song's opening lines play the role of a challenge: "I am your main man if you're looking for trouble, I take no lip, no one's tougher than me, I'd kick your face, you'd soon be seeing double." In these lines, the singer declares himself to be the king of the scene, a man who is not afraid to get physical if someone disrespects him. The chorus then repeats the song title, emphasizing the singer's status as a "rocker" and a "roller." The song's second verse tells the story of meeting a girl at a juke joint, to whom he immediately boasted about his toughness and motorcycle. The girl is described as being impressed, furthering the singer's sense of male validation.
The lyrics of "The Rocker" reflect a common trope of the rock-and-roll lifestyle that was popular in the mid-1970s when the song was released. The character in the song is someone who embraces danger and sees his worth in terms of his ability to assert his masculinity. The song also contains some tongue-in-cheek humor, particularly in the singer's declaration that he'd "kick your face, you'd soon be seeing double" - a phrase that is both absurd and comically violent. Overall, "The Rocker" presents a vivid portrait of a particular type of male rock-and-roll icon.
Line by Line Meaning
I am your main man if you're looking for trouble
I'm a troublemaker and I'm not afraid to show it.
I take no lip no ones tougher than me
I won't put up with anyone disrespecting me; I'm the toughest there is.
I'd kick your face you'd soon be seeing double
If you mess with me, I'll hurt you badly enough to make your vision blurry.
Hey little girl, keep your hands off me
I'm not interested in any romantic advances from you, so back off.
I'm a rocker
I'm a rebellious musician who plays rock and roll music.
I'm a roller too baby
Not only am I a rocker, but I also enjoy riding motorcycles and living fast.
Down at the juke joint me and the boys were stompin'
I was hanging out with my friends at a place where we could dance to music on a jukebox.
Bippin' an a boppin', telling a dirty joke or two
We were having a good time dancing and joking around with each other, even sharing some inappropriate jokes.
In walked this chick and I knew she was up to something
A girl walked in and I could tell that she was trying to get my attention.
And I kissed her right there out of the blue
I was so interested that I kissed her on the spot, without warning or hesitation.
I said "hey baby, meet me I'm a tough guy"
I introduced myself in a confident, brash way by emphasizing how tough I am.
Got my cycle outside, you want to try?
I pointed out that I had my motorcycle parked outside, as if to dare her to hop on and take a ride with me.
She just looked at me and rolled them big eyes
She looked at me skeptically, implying that she wasn't immediately sold on my tough guy persona.
And said "ooh I'd do anything for you 'cause you're a rocker"
Despite her initial hesitation, she was clearly attracted to me because of my rocker image, and was willing to do whatever it took to get closer to me.
That's right I'm a rocker
I'm and reiterating my confidence in my rocker identity.
I love to rock and roll
I have a deep passion for playing and listening to rock and roll music.
I get my records and I rock on stall
I enjoy listening to music so much that I will continue to play it for as long as possible.
Rock and roll
I'm emphasizing the significance of the genre of music that I love and play.
Teddy boy, he's got them all
I'm giving a shoutout to a particular subculture of rock and roll fans known as Teddy Boys.
Sweet rock and roll
I'm reiterating my love for rock and roll music, but with more emphasis on how much I enjoy it.
I'm a rocker!
I'm ending the song by reaffirming my identity as a rocker.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN MICHAEL DOWNEY, ERIC BELL, PHILIP PARRIS LYNOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@StyrbjornStarke
The guitar solo is one of the greatest solos in the history of rock, nuff said
@TheHumbuckerboy
I absolutely agree !
@garrynorris4478
Totally agree concerning the solo he takes the Guitar on a Journey like he’s riding a Motorcycle
@qayss8977
@@garrynorris4478 Great solo, but if you haven't checked out Molly Hatchet's epics (read: their solos) I think you'd really dig them as well. So many of them, like you say, take you on a journey (lol, for sure a time or two on a motorycyle)
@georgehorner1578
WHAT ABOUT BRIAN DOWNEY ON DRUMS GIVING JOHN BONHAM LESSONS?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@rickytaylor7893
Daymn right my friend! Who’s here in 2023!?!
@JamesParkour731
Probably the best song Eric Bell did with Lizzy, his solo is so insane it's undescribable. Once you think it can't get any better he just turns the notch up higher and higher and higher and higher and higher until your head explodes from the awesomeness.
@TheHumbuckerboy
For what it is worth, I have been playing guitar for over 40 years and I rate Eric's solo here as being one of THE greatest ever.
@jwoseph8178
yeah he certainly turned it up to 11
@paddymeboy
Whiskey in the Jar is a better solo.